Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday announced that the social pension arrears of 62 lakh beneficiaries in the state would be distributed within a time-bound period, and his government plans to increase them further.
Despite the financial crisis being faced by the state due to the Centre's policies and approach, the state government will not back down from its development programs and welfare schemes, he said.
The CM told the state Assembly that each beneficiary receives Rs 1,600 per month as welfare pension in Kerala, and his five installments are currently due.
Of this, two installments would be distributed in fiscal year 2024-25 and the rest in 2025-26, Vijayan said.
The Chief Minister made a statement in this regard in the Assembly as part of Article 300.
Claiming that the arrears were not caused by the Left government's policies, he said they have been distributing payments without fail since March this year.
"The state government has committed to fully distribute the arrears of welfare pensions. At present, the total amount of arrears is Rs 4,250 crore. Of this amount, Rs 1,700 crore will be disbursed in the current financial year financial," Vijayan said.
He said his government has an obligation to ensure that social benefits are properly distributed to deserving people and would therefore implement the disbursement of arrears as a time-bound initiative.
During the tenure of the UDF government, the total number of social security pension beneficiaries was 34,43,414 and they received a monthly amount of Rs 600, he said.
"Currently, 62 lakh people are receiving social security pension in the state. The pension amount has been increased up to Rs 1,600 in a phased manner. The government intends to increase it further," the CM said.
The special statement also contained harsh criticism of the Union government and its financial policy and approach towards the State.
After the present government came to power in 2021, the state experienced an acute financial crisis due to the Centre's discriminatory policies and that continues, he claimed.
He also listed several issues ranging from reducing the state's borrowing limit to reducing tax allocations as proof of the Centre's discriminatory attitude towards Kerala.
Despite the financial crisis being faced by the state due to the Centre's policies and approach, the state government will not back down from its development programs and welfare schemes, he said.
The CM told the state Assembly that each beneficiary receives Rs 1,600 per month as welfare pension in Kerala, and his five installments are currently due.
Of this, two installments would be distributed in fiscal year 2024-25 and the rest in 2025-26, Vijayan said.
The Chief Minister made a statement in this regard in the Assembly as part of Article 300.
Claiming that the arrears were not caused by the Left government's policies, he said they have been distributing payments without fail since March this year.
"The state government has committed to fully distribute the arrears of welfare pensions. At present, the total amount of arrears is Rs 4,250 crore. Of this amount, Rs 1,700 crore will be disbursed in the current financial year financial," Vijayan said.
He said his government has an obligation to ensure that social benefits are properly distributed to deserving people and would therefore implement the disbursement of arrears as a time-bound initiative.
During the tenure of the UDF government, the total number of social security pension beneficiaries was 34,43,414 and they received a monthly amount of Rs 600, he said.
"Currently, 62 lakh people are receiving social security pension in the state. The pension amount has been increased up to Rs 1,600 in a phased manner. The government intends to increase it further," the CM said.
The special statement also contained harsh criticism of the Union government and its financial policy and approach towards the State.
After the present government came to power in 2021, the state experienced an acute financial crisis due to the Centre's discriminatory policies and that continues, he claimed.
He also listed several issues ranging from reducing the state's borrowing limit to reducing tax allocations as proof of the Centre's discriminatory attitude towards Kerala.
